Willow Dress

Your garment has been made from a beautifully sturdy material that has longevity if properly cared for. If you want to make the most out of your items, here are some rules you should follow.

Washing

Machine wash
1. Separate white, dark, and colored linens. For best results, turn linens inside out and wash them separately from other fabrics. It’s important to avoid mixing heavy items like jeans, hoodies, or towels in a load with linen textiles.
2. Wash in cool or lukewarm water (<40°C). High temperatures may cause shrinkage of up to 10% and weaken the fabric fibre.
3. Use the gentle machine cycle and don’t overload your washing machine.
4. Use mild detergent formulated for delicate fabrics. Don't bleach.

5. To avoid too much creasing do not overfill the washing machine

6. Hang dry immediately after washing      

Hand wash
1. Submerge the garment in lukewarm water and let it soak for about 10 minutes with about 5mls of mild detergent.
2. Gently swish the item around. Don’t wring, twist or scrub as it can stretch the fabric.
3. Drain the soapy water and rinse repeatedly until the soapy residue is all gone.

4. No need for fabric softeners. Over time the fabric will soften on its own.

5. Hang to dry immediately after washing.

Removing stains

The main rule of getting stains out of linen is doing it as soon as they develop. If you let dirt, oil, grease, and other stains sit, they will absorb deep into the fibre making removal a difficult and annoying task.

If you have a minor spot, try soaking it in a water-detergent solution or washing it with club soda. If that doesn’t help, you can put some dish soap and gently massage it until the dirt comes out, then wash it as you usually would. Some stains are trickier and might come off by sprinkling baking soda and a few drops of vinegar on the fabric, then blotting it with a paper towel to soak up the moisture.

Drying

Linen rayon blends should only be dried on a low heat or no heat at all. It is very important not to dry your garment on high heat as it may cause significant shrinkage. Air drying is a great option.

If you are tumble drying:

Remove from the dryer when they’re still slightly damp and hang or lie flat to finish the process.

Shake out your garment before hanging them or line-drying and once they are mid-dry, lay them flat on a clean surface. This helps to avoid the stiffness of fabric.

Softening

Linen naturally gets softer with every wash. Fabric softeners weaken the fibres and coat them reducing their absorbency and moisture-wicking properties. It is advised not to use any fabric softener. 

Ironing

Use a medium-hot iron on the fabric while it’s still damp or overlay it with a damp towel. Frills need some pressure to get to their original form so make sure to press firmly.

Storing

Make sure your linens are completely dry to avoid mildew. Natural fibres like linen need to breathe, so it’s best to store them in cool, dry, well-ventilated areas and away from direct sunlight.

Love and take care of your garments and we are sure they will only get better with time!